This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Caudill / Hammon / Riddle / McClain Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/EFI.2ACEB/445 Message Board Post: I have noticed in my research that girls named Mary were more often that not called Polly in the 1800's. This happened to my great grandmother who happened to dislike her name Polly. The ironic part is that her real name was Mary. Does anyone know how this pratice got started?